Exploring causes, solutions for writer’s block

Last week I began a discussion of writer’s block. My hypothetical victim suffering from this problem had been unable to write for about three months. Because of embarrassment and fear, she had hidden her problem from her family, friends and professional colleagues. She had written several successful novels but in spite of these successes, her writing had come to a standstill. A mental health professional helped her rule out depression and stress as the source of her difficulty and she had all of the resources necessary to continue in her writing career. She also had plenty of time, but in spite of these assets her mind went blank when she tried to write.

Some of the following reasons may account for writer’s block:

• Many individuals who have become proficient in a certain endeavor develop a belief that they need to become better and better and perfectionism becomes their enemy. Honing their talent to a sharper and sharper edge makes self criticism and rejection of their work a real problem. As one novelist told me, “If I’m good then I feel that I must work to make my writing even better. With this kind of thinking I end up throwing three pages in the trash for every half page I accept and then finally, I decide that nothing that I do is good enough so I quit writing all together.”

• Another kind of writer’s block may come from the fact that the writer has chosen to emerse themselves in a topic that they don’t really enjoy writing about. Alternately, a writer who enjoys describing “the big picture” or passages filled with feeling and emotion may get bogged down when trying to write about something containing a lot of mundane details, excessive jargon, etc.

• Others experiencing writer’s block describe themselves as feeling like they are in a rut. Although not clinically depressed they may be experiencing a kind of “creative burnout.” The spark necessary to start the engine spewing out words is absent and the writer is stalled.

Following are some suggestions for overcoming writer’s block:

• Switch to different tools and/or a different working environment. If you have been using a computer try dictating or handwriting in an attempt to “jump start” the creative juices. Instead of sitting at a desk, try a swing on the porch or a bench in the park.

• Talk to writers who have experienced writer’s block. Talking to someone who has “been there” can be very cathartic and helpful.

• Stop trying to write altogether for awhile. Take a long vacation; get another job for a few months. Quit trying to make the words resume by beating yourself up with anxiety and guilt.

Finally don’t quit writing forever because writer’s block is usually not terminal.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001